Five Christmas Songs & Movements for Preschool: Make Some Merry Music!

The holiday months are a time for music and merriment for children of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Here are a few creative and simple Christmas songs to get your class singing and moving. Remember to use props, instruments, and streamers to enhance the music.

“I Spy” Christmas Song and Game

Play this "I see something" game to identify objects that we use during the Christmas holiday. Sing this song to the tune of "Frere Jacques."

I spy something, I spy something

Used to wrap a box, used to wrap a box.

It is red and green, it has Christmas pictures

What is it? What is it?

(Gift Wrap Paper)

I spy something, I spy something

It's alive and green, it's alive and green.

It has twinkling lights, ornaments and tinsel,

What is it? What is it?

(Christmas Tree)

This is an open-ended song and game. Create your own verses to name the many objects that traditionally correspond with the Christmas holiday.

Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star

Sing this song to the traditional tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Darken the room and allow the children to hold small flashlights to shine twinkling lights on the ceiling (or onto a Christmas tree in the classroom) while singing this song together.

Twinkle, twinkle Christmas star

You're so pretty where you are.

Way up on the Christmas tree,

Shining there for all to see.

Twinkle, twinkle Christmas star

Bright and shiny, Christmas star.

(Author Unknown)

Multicultural Christmas Song

This song teaches young children that there are ways to say Merry Christmas in other languages. Sing this one to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It."

Can you say Merry Christmas–clap your hands.

Can you say Merry Christmas–clap your hands.

Can you say it in a language,

like Spanish, like Spanish,

Say Feliz Navidad and clap your hands.

—–

Can you say Merry Christmas–clap your hands.

Can you say Merry Christmas–clap your hands.

Can you say it in a language

like French, like French,

Say Joyeux Noel and clap your hands.

—–

Can you say Merry Christmas–clap your hands.

Can you say Merry Christmas–clap your hands.

Can you say it in a language

like Greek, like Greek

Say Kala Christougenna and clap your hands.

Christmas Moves

Use holiday symbols to dramatize this circle dance. Have the children form a circle. Place a paper cutout in the center of the circle representing the symbol you are singing about. Sing this song to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush."

Marching around the Christmas tree,

Christmas tree, Christmas tree.

Marching around the Christmas tree

with Christmas on its way.

—–

Skipping around the Christmas wreath,

Christmas wreath, Christmas wreath.

Skipping around the Christmas wreath

with Christmas on its way.

—–

Hopping around the Christmas bell,

Christmas bell, Christmas bell.

Hopping around the Christmas bell

with Christmas on its way.

—–

This is an open-ended song and dance. For each verse, pick out the symbol and carry out the actions of your choice.

Jingle Bells

Sing the traditional song and enhance it with all kinds of bells: dinner bell, cow bell, sleigh bell, jingle bell, and so on. For this activity, cut out cardboard squares and number the cards from 1-10. Provide each child with a bell and as you hold up a card, the children will ring their bells to the corresponding number on that card.

As you engage the children by singing these seasonal songs, whether traditional or piggybacked versions, use this time to get into the spirit of the holiday and help the kids get their "wiggles" out with movement at the same time.